A day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam declared that he was repeatedly humiliated by own partymen and was "forced to resign" from the post, AIADMK party general secretary V.K. Sasikala, after an urgent party meeting on Wednesday, says he had "connived with the Opposition."
"I could sense the acts of the Chief Minister, who completely connived with the Opposition. After Amma's demise, the supporters asked me to take the responsibility; I couldn't, as I was very sad. It has become my responsibility, as a general secretary, to put an end to the wrongdoings committed by Mr. Panneerselvam. Our opponents are after us and spearheading whatever is happening today, but nothing can stop us from following Amma's path,'' she said.
Earlier, Mr. Panneerselvam said that a judicial inquiry would be instituted into the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Reiterating that he would prove his majority in the Assembly, he appealed to all AIADMK MLAs that they should take a "firm decision, taking into account the feelings of the people in their constituencies."
(This news report was first published in The Hindu online edition)